Bidirectional wavelength cross connect architectures using wavelength routing elements

ABSTRACT

Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/565,133, filed Nov. 30, 2006, entitled “BidirectionalWavelength Cross Connect Architectures Using Wavelength RoutingElements,” now allowed; which is a divisional of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/150,810, filed May 17, 2002, entitled “BidirectionalWavelength Cross Connect Architectures Using Wavelength RoutingElements,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,155,084 on Dec. 26, 2006, theentire disclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety for all purposes.

This application is related to commonly assigned U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 10/093,844, filed Mar. 8, 2002, entitled “Optical WavelengthCross Connect Architectures Using Wavelength Routing Elements,” issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,723 on Jul. 18, 2006, and to commonly assignedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/093,843, filed Mar. 8, 2002 entitled“Methods For Performing In-Service Upgrades Of Optical Wavelength CrossConnects,” issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,408 on Nov. 2, 2004, the entiredisclosure of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates generally to fiber-optic communications. Thisapplication relates more specifically to optical wavelengthcross-connect architectures used in fiber-optics applications.

The Internet and data communications are causing an explosion in theglobal demand for bandwidth. Fiber optic telecommunications systems arecurrently deploying a relatively new technology called dense wavelengthdivision multiplexing (DWDM) to expand the capacity of new and existingoptical fiber systems to help satisfy this demand. In DWDM, multiplewavelengths of light simultaneously transport information through asingle optical fiber. Each wavelength operates as an individual channelcarrying a stream of data. The carrying capacity of a fiber ismultiplied by the number of DWDM channels used. Today DWDM systemsemploying up to 80 channels are available from multiple manufacturers,with more promised in the future.

In all telecommunication networks, there is the need to connectindividual channels (or circuits) to individual destination points, suchas an end customer or to another network. Systems that perform thesefunctions are called cross-connects. Additionally, there is the need toadd or drop particular channels at an intermediate point. Systems thatperform these functions are called add-drop multiplexers (ADMs). All ofthese networking functions are currently performed byelectronics—typically an electronic SONET/SDH system. However,multi-wavelength systems generally require multiple SONET/SDH systemsoperating in parallel to process the many optical channels. This makesit difficult and expensive to scale DWDM networks using SONET/SDHtechnology. The alternative is an all-optical network. Optical networksdesigned to operate at the wavelength level are commonly called“wavelength routing networks” or “optical transport networks” (OTN). Ina wavelength routing network, the individual wavelengths in a DWDM fibermust be manageable. Optical wavelength cross connects are configuredgenerally to redirect the individual optical channels on a plurality ofinput optical fibers to a plurality of output optical fibers. Eachincoming channel may be directed to any of the output optical fibersdepending on a state of the cross connect. Thus, where there are P inputfibers and Q output fibers, the optical wavelength cross connect betweenthem may be considered to be a “PN×QN optical switch.” Sometimes herein,the terminology “P×Q optical wavelength cross connect” is used to referto such a cross connect by referring to the numbers of input and outputoptical fibers, each of which is understood to have the capacity forcarrying N channels. As such the “P×Q optical wavelength cross connect”terminology may be considered shorthand for describing an arbitrarilyconfigurable PN×QN optical device.

FIG. 1 provides an example of a prior-art 4×4 optical wavelength crossconnect 100 for a DWDM system carrying N individual wavelength channels.Each of the N channels on the four input signals 104 may beredistributed in accordance with a state of the cross connect 100 amongthe four output signals 116. The cross connect 100 functions bysplitting each of the input signals 104(i) with an optical demultiplexer108(i) into N signals 120(1 . . . N, i) that carry only a singlewavelength channel λ₁ . . . N. From each of the optical demultiplexers108, the signal corresponding to a particular one of the wavelengthchannels is directed to a respective one of N 4×4 optical space switches110(j). Each optical space switch 110 may be configured as desired toredirect the four received signals 120 to four transmitted signals 124.The transmitted signals 124 are transmitted to optical multiplexers 112that recombine the reordered individual-wavelength signals onto the fouroutput signals 116.

The efficiency of an arrangement such as shown in FIG. 1 is limitedbecause it adopts a brute-force-type approach of demultiplexing the fourincoming signals into their individual 4N components in order to reroutethem. There is a general need in the art for more efficient opticalwavelength cross-connect architectures without compromising completerouting flexibility.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention thus provide such efficient opticalwavelength routing elements. In one set of embodiments, a bidirectionalwavelength cross connect includes a plurality of opticallyinterconnected wavelength routing elements configured to multiplexselective ones of a plurality of spectral bands to an output opticalsignal and to direct the output optical signal to one of a plurality ofports. The spectral bands are comprised by a plurality of input opticalsignals, each input optical signal being received at respective ones ofthe plurality of ports. Thus, the bidirectional nature of theseembodiments leads to smaller, less expensive cross connectarchitectures.

Ones of these embodiments may also include at least one circulatordisposed to receive one of the plurality of input optical signals, routethe one of the plurality of input optical signal to one of the ports,receive from the one of the ports the output optical signal, andtransmit the output optical signal. One of the wavelength routingelements may include a four-pass wavelength routing element. One of thewavelength routing elements may include a two-pass wavelength routingelement. The bidirectional wavelength cross connect may also include aplurality of optical couplers, each disposed to intercept one of theinput optical signals and to transmit an equivalent of such one of theinput optical signals to at least two of the plurality of wavelengthrouting elements. One of the plurality of wavelength routing elementsmay be comprised by a protection fabric, and a remainder of theplurality of wavelength routing elements may be comprised by a workingfabric, in which case the bidirectional wavelength cross connect mayalso include at least one working optical switch configured to transmitthe output optical signal either as a working signal received from theworking fabric or as a protection signal received from the protectionfabric. The protection fabric may include includes a protection opticalswitch disposed to transmit the protection signal to one of the workingoptical switches, depending upon a state of the protection opticalswitch. The at least one wavelength routing element comprised by theprotection fabric may be disposed to receive an equivalent of at leastone of the input signals and to transmit the protection signal withspectral bands corresponding to desired spectral bands on the outputoptical signal, depending on the state of that wavelength routingelement.

In another set of embodiments, a K×K bidirectional wavelength crossconnect includes K ports configured to receive input optical signals,each input optical signal comprising a plurality of spectral bands. Atleast one of the ports is disposed to transmit an output optical signalcomprising at least one of the spectral bands. The K×K bidirectionalwavelength cross connect also includes a plurality of opticallyinterconnected wavelength routing elements configured to selectivelyroute input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals. TheK×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect may also include Kcirculators, each disposed to receive one of the input optical signals,route the one of the input optical signals to one of the ports, receivefrom the port one of the output optical signals, and transmit the one ofthe output optical signals. One of the wavelength routing elements mayinclude a four-pass wavelength routing element. One of the wavelengthrouting elements may include a two-pass wavelength routing element. TheK×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect may also include a pluralityof optical couplers, each disposed to intercept one of the input opticalsignals and to transmit an equivalent of such one of the input opticalsignals to at least two of the plurality of wavelength routing elements.One of the plurality of wavelength routing elements may be comprised bya protection fabric, and a remainder of the plurality of wavelengthrouting elements may be comprised by a working fabric, in which case thebidirectional wavelength cross connect also may include a plurality ofworking optical switches, each configured to transmit a respective oneof the output optical signals either as a working signal received fromthe working fabric or as a protection signal received from theprotection fabric. The protection fabric may include a protectionoptical switch disposed to transmit the protection signal to one of theworking optical switches, depending upon a state of the protectionoptical switch. One wavelength routing element comprised by theprotection fabric may be disposed to receive an equivalent of at leastone of the input signals and to transmit the protection signal withspectral bands corresponding to desired spectral bands on one of theoutput optical signals, depending on the state of that wavelengthrouting element.

In another set of embodiments, a K×K bidirectional wavelength crossconnect includes a plurality K of 1:(K−1) optical couplers, eachconfigured to receive one of a plurality of input optical signals. Eachof the plurality of input optical signals includes a plurality ofspectral bands. The K×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect alsoincludes a plurality

$\frac{K\left( {K - 1} \right)}{2}$of wavelength blockers, each wavelength blocker having at least twowavelength blocker ports. Each optical coupler is configured to transmit(K−1) substantial equivalents of one of the plurality of input opticalsignals to (K−1) wavelength blockers, to receive an output opticalsignal from each of the (K−1) wavelength blockers, and to transmit acomposite output signal. The wavelength blockers are configured toreceive two of the substantial equivalents of the plurality of inputoptical signals from two different optical couplers, selectively toblock spectral bands from the substantial equivalents of the pluralityof input optical signals, and to transmit output optical signals to thetwo different optical couplers. The K×K bidirectional wavelength crossconnect also may include K circulators, each disposed to receive one ofthe plurality of input optical signals, route the one of the inputoptical signals to one of the couplers, receive from the coupler acomposite output signal, and transmit the composite output signal. Oneof the wavelength routing elements may include a four-pass wavelengthrouting element. One of the wavelength routing elements may include atwo-pass wavelength routing element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the presentinvention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of thespecification and the drawings wherein like reference numerals are usedthroughout the several drawings to refer to similar components. In someinstances, a sublabel is associated with a reference numeral and isenclosed in parentheses to denote one of multiple similar components.When reference is made to a reference numeral without specification toan existing sublabel, it is intended to refer to all such multiplesimilar components.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior-art cross connectused in DWDM applications.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic top, side, and end views, respectively, of anoptical wavelength routing element used in certain embodiments of theinvention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic top and side views, respectively, of anoptical wavelength routing element used in certain embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an optical routing element accordingto a third embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A-5D are schematic diagrams showing examples of L×1 cross-connectbuilding blocks that include wavelength routing elements in accordancewith embodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 6A-6I are schematic diagrams showing examples of P×Qcross-connects that include wavelength routing elements in accordancewith embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a 4×4 optical wavelengthcross-connect architecture, including a protection fabric, according toembodiments of the invention.

FIGS. 8A-8E are schematic diagrams showing examples of K×Kcross-connects, as Optical Add-Drop Multiplexers, using wavelengthrouting elements in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 1. Introduction

The following description sets forth embodiments of optical wavelengthcross-connect architectures according to the invention. The generaloperation of such cross-connect architectures is to receive P inputsignals at respective input ports and output Q output signals atrespective output ports. Each of the input and output signals comprisesa plurality of spectral bands, with the cross connect capable ofachieving a configuration that results in a desired redistribution ofinput spectral bands corresponding to equivalent channels among theoutput signals. Although the signals could each have a continuousspectrum, adjacent segments of which could be considered differentspectral bands, it is generally contemplated that the spectrum of theincoming light will have a plurality of spaced bands, denoted ascorresponding to channels 1, 2, 3, . . . N. In some instances, theexamples provided herein focus on symmetric cross connects in which P=Q,but this is not a requirement and embodiments of the invention mayreadily be adapted to nonsymmetric cross connects also.

The terms “input port” and “output port” are intended to have broadmeanings. At the broadest, a port is defined by a point where lightenters or leaves the system. For example, the input (or output) portcould be the location of a light source (or detector) or the location ofthe downstream end of an input fiber (or the upstream end of an outputfiber). In specific embodiments, the structure at the port locationcould include a fiber connector to receive the fiber, or could includethe end of a fiber pigtail, the other end of which is connected tooutside components. The optical character of the system also permits theinput ports and output ports to be interchanged functionally,permitting, for example, a P×Q element to be used as a Q×P element.

The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has defined a standardwavelength grid having a frequency band centered at 194,100 GHz, andanother band at every 50 GHz interval around 194,100 GHz. Thiscorresponds to a wavelength spacing of approximately 0.4 nm around acenter wavelength of approximately 1550 nm, it being understood that thegrid is uniform in frequency and only approximately uniform inwavelength. Embodiments of the invention are preferably designed for theITU grid, but finer frequency intervals of 25 GHz and 100 GHz(corresponding to wavelength spacings of approximately 0.2 nm and 0.8nm) are also of interest.

2. Wavelength Routing Element

Embodiments of the invention for an optical wavelength cross connectinclude one or more wavelength routing elements (“WRE”). As used herein,a “1×L WRE” refers to an optical device that receives multiplexed lightat a WRE input port and redirects subsets of the spectral bandscomprised by the multiplexed light to respective one or ones L of WREoutput ports. Such a 1×L WRE may be operated as an L×1 WRE byinterchanging the functions of the input and output ports. Specifically,a plurality L of optical signals, each multiplexed according to the samewavelength grid are provided at the L output ports (functioning as inputports). A single optical signal is output at the input port (functioningas an output port) and includes spectral bands selected from the Lmultiplexed optical signals according to the wavelength grid. Thus, thesingle output optical signal has, at each position on the wavelengthgrid, no more than one spectral band received at the same position onthe wavelength grid from the L multiplexed optical signals. Accordingly,reference herein to a WRE adapted for routing wavelength components“between” a first optical signal and a plurality of second opticalsignals is intended to include a WRE configured to operate as a 1×L WREor a WRE configured to operate as an L×1 WRE.

In a special case, WREs may be configured as “wavelength blockers” thatpass only selected wavelengths from an input port to an output port. Insuch cases, the wavelength blockers may be 1×2 WREs with no connectionto one of the two output ports. Alternatively, for example, wavelengthblockers may be 1×1 WREs having an OFF position. WREs having an OFFposition are more fully explained in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No.6,959,132, issued Oct. 25, 2005, entitled “One-To-M Wavelength RoutingElement,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

Embodiments for the cross connects that use a WRE may generally use anyconfiguration for routing subsets of a plurality of spectral bands thatachieve these functions. In some instances, a particular WRE may beprovided in a one-pass, two-pass, four-pass, or other configuration.Some examples of suitable WREs are described in detail below, andadditional examples of WREs that may be comprised by certain embodimentsare described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,501,877, issued Dec.31, 2002, entitled “Wavelength Router,” the entire disclosure of which,including the Appendix, is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for all purposes.

In some embodiments, wavelength routing functions within the WRE may beperformed optically with a free-space optical train disposed between theWRE input port and the WRE output ports, and a routing mechanism. Thefree-space optical train can include air-spaced elements or can be ofgenerally monolithic construction. The optical train includes adispersive element such as a diffraction grating. The routing mechanismincludes one or more routing elements and cooperates with the otherelements in the optical train to provide optical paths that coupledesired subsets of the spectral bands to desired WRE output ports. Therouting elements are disposed to intercept the different spectral bandsafter they have been spatially separated by their first encounter withthe dispersive element.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic top, side, and end views, respectively, of oneembodiment of a 1×L (or, equivalently, L×1) WRE 210. This embodiment maybe considered to be a four-pass WRE. Its general functionality is toaccept light having a plurality N of spectral bands at a WRE input port212, and to direct subsets of the spectral bands to desired ones of aplurality L of WRE output ports, designated 215(1) . . . 215(L). Theoutput ports are shown in the end view of FIG. 2C as disposed along aline 217 that extends generally perpendicular to the top view of FIG.2A. Light entering the WRE 10 from WRE input port 212 forms a divergingbeam 218, which includes the different spectral bands. Beam 218encounters a lens 220 that collimates the light and directs it to areflective diffraction grating 225. The grating 225 disperses the lightso that collimated beams at different wavelengths are directed atdifferent angles back towards the lens 220.

Two such beams are shown explicitly and denoted 226 and 226′, the latterdrawn in dashed lines. Since these collimated beams encounter the lens220 at different angles, they are focused towards different points alonga line 227 in a transverse plane extending in the plane of the top viewof FIG. 2A. The focused beams encounter respective ones of a pluralityof retroreflectors, designated 230(1) . . . 230(N), located near thetransverse plane. Various examples of micromirror configurations thatmay be used as part of the retroreflectors, among others, are describedin the following commonly assigned patents, each of which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes: U.S. Pat.No. 6,625,342, issued Sep. 23, 2003, entitled “Systems And Methods ForOvercoming Stiction Using A Lever”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,535,319, issued Mar.18, 2003, entitled “Free-Space Optical Wavelength Routing Elements BasedOn Stepwise Controlled Tilting Mirrors”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,873,447, issuedMar. 29, 2005, entitled “Two-Dimensional Free-Space Optical WavelengthRouting Element Based On Stepwise Controlled Tilting Mirrors”; U.S. Pat.No. 6,701,037, issued Mar. 2, 2004, entitled “MEMS-Based NoncontactingFree-Space Optical Switch”; U.S. Pat. No. 6,657,759, issued Dec. 2,2003, entitled “Bistable Micromirror With Contactless Stops”; U.S. Pat.No. 6,614,581, issued Sep. 2, 2003, entitled “Methods And Apparatus ForProviding A Multi-Stop Micromirror”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,728, issuedAug. 27, 2002, entitled “Multimirror Stack For Vertical Integration OfMEMS Devices In Two-Position Retroreflectors.”

The beams are directed back, as diverging beams, to the lens 220 wherethey are collimated, and directed again to the grating 225. On thesecond encounter with the grating 225, the angular separation betweenthe different beams is removed and they are directed back to the lens220, which focuses them. The retroreflectors 230 may be configured tosend their intercepted beams along a reverse path displaced alongrespective lines 235(1) . . . 235(N) that extend generally parallel toline 217 in the plane of the side view of FIG. 2B and the end view ofFIG. 2C, thereby directing each beam to one or another of WRE outputports 215.

Another embodiment of a WRE, designated 210′, is illustrated withschematic top and side views in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. Thisembodiment may be considered an unfolded version of the embodiment ofFIGS. 2A-2C and operates as a two-pass WRE. Light entering the WRE 10′from WRE input port 212 forms diverging beam 218, which includes thedifferent spectral bands. Beam 218 encounters a first lens 220 a, whichcollimates the light and directs it to a transmissive grating 225′. Thegrating 225′ disperses the light so that collimated beams at differentwavelengths encounter a second lens 220 b, which focuses the beams. Thefocused beams are reflected by respective ones of plurality ofretroreflectors 230, which may also be configured as described above, asdiverging beams, back to lens 220 b, which collimates them and directsthem to grating 225′. On the second encounter, the grating 225′ removesthe angular separation between the different beams, which are thenfocused in the plane of WRE output ports 215 by lens 220 a.

A third embodiment of a WRE, designated 210″, is illustrated with theschematic top view shown in FIG. 4. This embodiment is a further foldedversion of the embodiment of FIGS. 2A-2C, shown as a solid glassembodiment that uses a concave reflector 240 in place of lens 220 ofFIGS. 2A-2C or lenses 220 a and 220 b of FIGS. 3A and 3B. Light enteringthe WRE 210″ from input port 212 forms diverging beam 218, whichincludes the different spectral bands. Beam 218 encounters concavereflector 240, which collimates the light and directs it to reflectivediffraction grating 225, where it is dispersed so that collimated beamsat different wavelengths are directed at different angles back towardsconcave reflector 240. Two such beams are shown explicitly, one in solidlines and one in dashed lines. The beams then encounter retroreflectors230 and proceed on a return path, encountering concave reflector 240,reflective grating 225′, and concave reflector 240, the final encounterwith which focuses the beams to the desired WRE output ports. Again, theretroreflectors 230 may be configured as described above.

3. Cross-Connect Building Blocks

Architectures for large cross connects made in accordance with certainembodiments of the invention use L×1 optical elements that include oneor more WREs. Such an element is referred to generically herein as an“L×1 WRE,” including arrangements that have more than one WRE, providedat least one WRE is comprised by the element. Thus, one example of anembodiment of an L×1 WRE that may be used in cross-connect architecturesaccording to the invention is a single structure that has one input(output) port and L output (input) ports. Other embodiments of an L×1WRE comprised of smaller WREs are illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D.

For example, FIG. 5A shows how a 4×1 WRE 510 may be configured withthree 2×1 WREs. Each of the 2×1 WREs used in any of these embodimentsmay be configured as one of the WREs described in the '061 applicationor may be configured according to another WRE design. The 4×1 WRE 510accepts four input signals 502 and outputs a single output signal 515.The four input signals 502 are received in pairs by two of the 2×1 WREs504. The outputs from the 2×1 WREs 504 are used as inputs to the third2×1 WRE, which output the output signal 515.

This arrangement of 2×1 WREs may thus be considered to be a treearrangement. At each level of the tree, the number of distinct spectralbands across all optical signals at that level is reduced by the actionof the 2×1 WREs 504 until, at the final level, only the desired spectralbands remain on the output signal 535. The resulting 4×1 WRE 510 thusfunctions according to the definition provided above for the operationof a WRE by mapping selected spectral bands from each of the inputsignals 502 according to a wavelength grid.

The embodiment of FIG. 5A may also be used as a 1×4 WRE to perform thereverse mapping according to the wavelength grid by interchanging thefunctions of the input and output ports. In such an instance, spectralbands originating on the single input signal are progressively directedto the desired ones of the plurality of output signals by separatingthem with the 2×1 WREs 504 at each level of the tree. It is thus evidentfor a 1×4 WRE (and more generally for a 1×L WRE) that certainwavelength-grid positions of at least some of the output signals will beinactive by carrying no spectral bands.

FIG. 5B shows an extension of the tree arrangement of 2×1 WREs 504 to anarchitecture that provides an 8×1 WRE 520. Spectral bands from eightinput signals 522 are routed according to a unique wavelength-gridassignment to a single output signal 525. The eight input signals 522are received in pairs by four 2×1 WREs 504, and the four outputs fromthose 2×1 WREs are received by the 4×1 WRE 510 shown in FIG. 5A. Theresulting 8×1 WRE 520 functions according to the definition providedabove for the operation of a WRE by mapping selected spectral bands fromeach of the input signals 522 according to a wavelength grid. It mayalso be used as a 1×8 WRE to perform the reverse mapping according tothe wavelength grid by interchanging the functions of the input andoutput ports.

It is evident that larger WREs may be configured by including morelayers in the tree. Adding still another layer of 2×1 WREs to the 8×1WRE of FIG. 5B results in a 16×1 WRE. More generally, for a tree havingp full layers of 2×1 WREs, the resulting element functions as a 2^(p)×1WRE, mapping spectral bands from 2^(p) input signals according to awavelength grid onto a single output port. Such an element mayalternatively be used as a 1×2^(p) WRE to perform the reverse mappingaccording to the wavelength grid by interchanging the functions of theinput and output ports.

It is not necessary that every level of the tree be completely filledwith 2×1 WREs. For example, FIG. 5C provides a schematic illustration ofan embodiment similar to that of FIG. 5B except that two of the 2×1 WREs504 at the widest level of the tree have been removed. Accordingly, thisembodiment functions as a 6×1 WRE 530 that maps selected spectral bandsfrom each of six input signals 532 according to a wavelength grid onto asingle output signal 535. Interchanging the functions of input andoutput ports results in a reverse mapping according to the wavelengthgrid so that element 530 functions as a 1×6 WRE. It is noted by showingthe component 4×1 WRE 510 with the dashed line that this embodiment mayalternatively be considered as a configuration having a complete tree,but with different sizes of WREs on a given level. The 6×1 WRE 530 showncomprises a tree having a 4×1 WRE 510 and a 2×1 WRE 504 on its widestlevel, these WREs feeding into a 2×1 WRE 504 at the top level.

Similarly, FIG. 5D eliminates some 2×1 WREs 504 from two levels of thetree when compared with FIG. 5B. The illustrated embodiment functions asa 5×1 WRE 540 by mapping selected spectral bands from each of five inputsignals 542 according to a wavelength grid onto a single output signal545. As for the other embodiments, element 540 may function as a 1×5 WREby interchanging the functions of the input and output ports. Also, likethe embodiment shown in FIG. 5C, element 540 may be considered as havingWREs of different sizes, specifically in this example of comprising a4×1 WRE 510 and a 2×1 WRE 504.

It is evident that various other combinations may be made according tothe principles described with respect to FIGS. 5A-5D to produce L×1 and1×L WREs for any value of L. Further, L×1 and 1×L WREs may be used asbuilding blocks to form P×Q WRE's for values of P and Q other than 1,including configurations where P=Q, which will be referred to herein asK×K configurations. Illustrations of such configurations are provided byFIGS. 6A-6I.

4. Optical Wavelength Cross Connects

a. Broadcast-and-Select Optical Wavelength Cross Connects

FIGS. 6A and 6B provide examples respectively of 2×3 and 3×2 crossconnects. The illustrated embodiments use combinations of 2×1 WREs,which may be configured as described in the '061 application orotherwise, and optical splitters. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6Afunctions as a 2×3 cross connect that maps spectral bands from two inputoptical signals 612 according to a wavelength grid onto three outputsignals 615. Each of the input optical signals 612 encounters a 1:3optical splitter 608 connected with three 2×1 WREs 604. This arrangementthus provides a duplicate of both input signals 612 to each of the 2×1WREs 604, each of which is configured to select the desired spectralbands for its corresponding output signal 615. Notably, this arrangementpermits any combination of the spectral bands available from either ofthe input signals 612 to be included on any of the output signals 615,subject to the constraint imposed by the wavelength grid. Thus, forexample, the specific spectral band at λ₀ on the wavelength grid for,say, the first input signals 612(1), may be included on one, two, oreven all three of the output signals depending on the configuration ofthe 2×1 WREs 604. It is even possible for all of the output signals 615to include an identical set of selected spectral bands from the twoinput signals 612.

FIG. 6B provides an example of a 3×2 cross connects that operates onsimilar principles. Each of the three input signals 622 encounters a 1:2optical splitter that directs duplicates of the input signals accordingto the arrangement illustrated in the figure. The routing of theduplicates with the illustrated set of 2×1 WREs permits each of theoutput signals 625 to include any desired combination of spectral bandsfrom the input signals 622, subject to the wavelength-grid constraintand depending on the states of the 2×1 WREs. As for the arrangementshown in FIG. 6A for a 2×3 cross connect, a specific spectral band fromany of the input signals may be included on any (or all) of the outputsignals if desired.

The architectures illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B are examples of a moregeneral class of cross-connect architectures described herein as“broadcast-and-select architectures.” A common feature of sucharchitectures is that the input optical signals are duplicated withoptical splitters, with a duplicate of each of the input signals beingprovided to a WRE, which may then be configured to select any of thedesired spectral bands. There is therefore no constraint prohibiting aspecific spectral band from any of the input signals from appearing onwhatever number of output signals is desired. Such a capacity may beespecially suitable for certain applications, including videoapplications among others. It should be noted that broadcast-and-selectarchitectures may operate in the reverse direction, in which case thearchitecture may be referred to as a “distribute-and-combine”architecture.

b. K×K Bidirectional Optical Wavelength Cross Connects

FIG. 6C provides an illustration of a 3×3 bidirectional opticalwavelength cross connect 630. The cross connect 630 may be considered amember of the general class of K×K optical wavelength cross connects.However, this architecture demonstrates the concept that opticalcomponents such as those described herein may be used in bidirectionalconfigurations where optical signals are transmitted through thecomponents in opposite directions simultaneously. This allows crossconnects to be both smaller and less expensive.

The optical wavelength cross connect 630 of FIG. 6C is a 3×3bidirectional optical wavelength cross connect having three inputs 632and three outputs 634. Circulators 636 permits input optical signals tobe added and output optical signals to be removed from commontransmission links 637 of the device. The circulators 636 may beintegral with or external to the device. Three 1:2 couplers 638, spliteach input signal into substantially identical signals and route them tocouplers 638 associated with the other two inputs. It will be understoodthat a 1:2 coupler is equivalently a 2:1 coupler in the reversedirection that combines, rather than splits, signals. Between eachcoupler pair in the arrangement, wavelength blockers 639 selectivelyblock wavelengths from being transmitted. The wavelength blockers 639may be, for example, 1×1 WREs with an OFF position or 2×1 WREs with anopen connection. Thus, each input signal 632 is broadcast to the otherinputs (outputs) and the wavelength blockers 639 select particularwavelengths to pass to the outputs, while the remaining wavelengths areblocked from the transmission. Other configurations are possible.

To illustrate the function of the cross connect 630, assume each input632 may include 80 channels. If wavelength blocker 639(1) is configuredto block channels 61-80, then channels 1-60 of the input 632(1) wouldappear at the output 634(2), while channels 1-60 of the input 632(2)would appear at the output 634(1). Channels 61-80 of input 632(3) couldbe selectively transmitted to either or both of outputs 634(1) and634(2), depending on the configuration of wavelength blockers 639(3) and639(2).

FIG. 6D provides another example of a 3×3 bidirectional opticalwavelength cross connect 650. The cross connect 650 includes threeinputs 652 and three outputs 653. Three circulators 654 permit inputoptical signals to be added and output optical signals to be removedfrom common links 655 of the device. Each of the three links 655 servesas an input in one direction and an output in the other direction to 2×1(1×2) wavelength routing elements (WREs) 656. The WREs 656 may beconfigured as described in the '061 application or otherwise.Alternatively, the WREs 656 may be 1×3 WREs configured such that one ofthe outputs (inputs) is an OFF state.

To illustrate the function of the cross connect 650 of FIG. 6D, assumethat each input 652 may include 80 channels. In this example, assume theWRE 656(1) is configured to direct channels 1-60 of the input 652(1) tothe WRE 656(2) and channels 61-80 of the input 652(1) to the WRE 656(3).Assume further that the WRE 656(2) is configured to direct channels 1-40of the input 652(2) to the WRE 656(1) and channels 41-80 of the input652(2) to the WRE 656(3). Finally, assume that the WRE 656(3) isconfigured to direct channels 1-20 of the input 652(3) to the WRE 656(1)and channels 21-80 of the input 652(3) to the WRE 656(2). The resultwould be that the output 653(1) would include channels 1-40 of the input652(2), the output 653(2) would include channels 1-40 of the input652(1) and channels 41-80 of the input 652(3), and the output 653(3)would include channels 41-80 of the input 652(2). As is evident, becauseof the configuration of the WREs 656(1) and 656(3), no channels wouldpass through to the respective output from the opposite input. Asmentioned previously, the WREs 656(2) may be 3×1 (1×3) WREs with one ofthe outputs (inputs) being an OFF state.

FIG. 6E provides an illustration of a 4×4 bidirectional opticalwavelength cross connect 660 using wavelength blockers 668, as in theconfiguration of FIG. 6C. The cross connect 660 uses six wavelengthblockers 668 (or 1×1 WREs), and four 1:3 couplers 666. Higher values ofK are possible. In general, certain embodiments of the K×K opticalwavelength cross connect using wavelength blockers would employ aplurality K of 1:(K−1) couplers, one associated with each input(output), and

$K\frac{\left( {K - 1} \right)}{2}$wavelength blockers. Each coupler output (input) would be connected toan input (output) of each of the remaining couplers by way of awavelength blocker. Some values of K may require amplification ofsignals, due to the number of times signals are divided. It is generallypossible to add more optical components without altering thefunctionality of the arrangement.

FIG. 6F provides an illustration of an exemplary 4×4 bidirectionalwavelength cross connect 670 using 1×3 WREs 676 (or 1×4 WREs with an OFFposition). The 1×3 WREs may be made up of 1×2 WREs, as explainedpreviously with respect to FIGS. 5A-5D. The cross connect 670 includesinputs 672, outputs 673, and circulators 674.

FIG. 6G provides an illustration of an exemplary 3×3 bidirectionaloptical wavelength cross connect 680 using a combination of couplers685, a 1×2 WRE 686 and a wavelength blocker 687. The cross connect 680includes inputs 682, outputs 683, and circulators 684.

FIG. 6H provides an illustration of a 4×4 bidirectional opticalwavelength cross connect 690 using a wavelength blocker 694, a 1:2coupler 695, two, 1:3 couplers 696, a 3×1 WRE 697, and a 2×1 WRE 698.The cross connect 690 also includes inputs 692, outputs 693, andcirculators 684. In some embodiments, it may be preferable to use(L+1)×1 WREs having an OFF state (e.g., leaving one of the L portsopen), depending, for example, on the number of wavelength channels.

FIG. 6I provides an illustration of an exemplary a 5×5 bidirectionaloptical wavelength cross connect 699. The cross connect 699 is made upof 1:3 couplers 696 and 2×1 WREs 698 (3×1 WREs with an OFF position insome embodiments). Although not shown, it is understood that similarembodiments may include circulators either external to or integral withthe device. Higher values of K are possible for K×K bidirectionalwavelength cross connects using couplers in combination with WREs, insome of which cases, it may be preferable to provide signalamplification, depending, for example, on the value of K.

(1) High-Reliability Embodiments

Certain K×K bidirectional wavelength cross connect architectures may beequipped with a protection capability. Providing protection capabilityto optical wavelength cross connects is described more fully inpreviously incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,723. An example of such anarchitecture for a 4×4 cross connect 700 is illustrated in FIG. 7,although it is evident how the principles may be used for a K×K (or evenP×Q) cross connect of any size. In FIG. 7, the cross connect 700comprises a working fabric, denoted 704, and a protection fabric,denoted 708. The cross connect 700, without the protection fabric 708,provides the same functionality as the 4×4 WRE of FIG. 6H, although theembodiment is shown rearranged in FIG. 7, for ease of illustration. Theworking fabric includes a number of WREs, including a 1×1 WRE 710, a 2×1WRE 712, and a 3×1 WRE 714 (the general solution provides a 1×1 WRE, a2×1 WRE, . . . a (K−2)×1 WRE, and a (K−1)×1 WRE). The protection fabric708 also includes a (K−1)×1 WRE 716. A 1:2 coupler 718 and two 1:3couplers 720 route signals as shown to (from) either the working fabric704 or the protection fabric 708, depending on the configuration offiber switches, as explained further below. (The general solutionincludes one 1:2 coupler, one 1:3 coupler . . . one 1:K−2 coupler, andtwo 1:K−1 couplers). Circulators 722 add input signals 724 or removeoutput signals 726, as shown. Given the bidirectional nature of thecross connect 700, “input” or “inputs” may equivalently mean “output” or“outputs,” respectively, in the reverse direction.

In the event of a failure in the system affecting one of the WREs 710,712, 714 included on the working fabric 704, the protection WRE 716 maybe configured to substitute for the WRE affected by the failure. Suchsubstitution is accomplished with an arrangement of fiber switches.First, the protection fabric 708 comprises a 1×(K−1) fiber switch 728that receives the output of the protection WRE 716 and directs it to oneof K−1 fiber switches provided as 2×1 fiber switches 730. Each of these2×1 fiber switches 730 may select between a signal received from anassociated WRE 710, 712, 714 on the working fabric and a signal from the1×K fiber switch 728 on the protection fabric, i.e. corresponding to asignal from the protection WRE. Second,

$\frac{K\left( {K - 1} \right)}{2},$1×2 fiber switches 732, positioned for ease of illustration into threeclusters 733, 734, 735 (K−1 clusters in the general case) select whetherto route signals from the optical splitters 720, 718 to the workingfabric 704 WREs 710, 712, 714 or to the protection fabric 708 WRE 716.Thus, all switches in a cluster are positioned to direct signals toeither the working fabric 704 or to the protection fabric 708.Additionally, K−2 fiber switches 736, 738 select appropriate inputs tothe protection fabric 728 WRE 716 (in the general case, the K−2 fiberswitches include: a 2×1 fiber switch; a 3×1 fiber switch; . . . a(K−2)×1 fiber switch; and a (K−1)×1 fiber switch).

Thus, in normal operation, each of the 2×1 fiber switches 730 isconfigured to transmit the optical signals received from its respectiveWREs 710, 712, 714 comprised by the working fabric 704 to transmissionlinks 740. In the event of a failure affecting one of the working WREs710, 712, 714, the switch 730 associated with the failed WRE and theswitch 728 are configured such that the protection fabric 708 WRE 716 isconnected to the appropriate link 740. Additionally, the fiber switches732 in the cluster 733, 734, 735 associated with the failed WRE arepositioned to route signals to the protection WRE 716. Finally, thefiber switches 736, 738 are configured to connect the appropriatecluster 733, 734, 735 to the protection WRE 716. It should be noted thatthe protection WRE 716 need receive only the number of inputs (transmitthe number of outputs) to correspond to the working WRE being replaced.

(2) In-Service Upgrades

As explained more fully in previously incorporated U.S. Pat. No.7,079,723, certain P×Q bidirectional optical wavelength cross connectshaving a protection fabric, such as the embodiment of FIG. 7, may beupgraded to embodiments having higher values of P and/or Q while thedevice remains in service. However, the ultimate values for P and/or Qmay be limited by the size of the components initially installed (e.g.,couplers 720).

(3) K×K Bidirectional Optical Wavelength Cross Connects as OADMs

K×K bidirectional wavelength cross connects may be used to perform thefunctions of optical add-drop multiplexers (OADMs). OADMs provide thecapability to add or drop particular channels at intermediate points ina network. FIG. 8A illustrates an OADM 800, including the input ports(labeled “In” and “Add”) and output ports (labeled “XP” and “Drop”)typically associated with an OADM. The In port is the primary input portand the XP (express) port is the primary output port, although this innot necessarily the case. Channels to be added enter through the Addport, while channels to be dropped exit through the Drop port.

FIG. 8B provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment of aunidirectional OADM 810. The OADM 810 includes a 1:2 coupler 812, a 2×1WRE 814 and a wavelength blocker 816 (1×1 WRE). The splitter 812provides an equivalent of the input signal to both the WRE 814 and thewavelength blocker 816. The WRE 814 selects channels to output throughthe XP port from either the Add or In ports (via the coupler 812). Thewavelength blocker 816 passes any of the channels from the In port tothe Drop port, typically the same channels being added.

FIG. 8C provides a schematic illustration of a bidirectional OADM 820.The OADM 820 includes a 1×2 WRE 822 and three circulators 824, 826, 828.Through channels entering the In port are routed to the WRE 822 via thecirculator 824. The WRE directs the through channels to the circulator826, where the channels are rerouted back to the WRE 822, then to thecirculator 824, before being directed to the XP port. The WRE 822 routeschannels to be dropped to the Drop port via the circulator 828. Giventhe configuration of the WRE 822 to drop particular channels, channelshaving the same wavelength may be added by receiving the signals fromthe Add port via the circulator 828. The added signals are routed to theXP port via the circulator 824.

FIG. 8D illustrates another example of a bidirectional OADM 830, similarto the OADM of FIG. 8C, having multiple Add and Drop ports. A 1×4 WRE832 is used in place of the 1×2 WRE of FIG. 8C to provide three Add andthree Drop ports. In general, a 1×L WRE may be used as shown to providean OADM having up to L−1 Add and L−1 Drop ports.

FIG. 8E provides a schematic illustration of another example of abidirectional OADM 840. The OADM 840 includes a 1×2 WRE 842, circulators844, 846, and coupler 848. Through channels enter the In port and aredirected to the WRE 842 via the circulator 844. The WRE 842 directs thethrough channels to the coupler 848 via a transmission link 850. The WRE842 directs channels to be dropped to the Drop port via the circulator846. Channels to be added enter the WRE 842 via the circulator 846. TheWRE 842 directs the added channels to the coupler 848 via the circulator844. As with the embodiment of FIG. 8C, additional Add and Drop portsmaybe included by providing 1×L WREs in place of the WRE 842 havingvalues of L larger than 2.

Having described several embodiments, it will be recognized by those ofskill in the art that various modifications, alternative constructions,and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of theinvention. A number of alternative architectures have been provided asillustrations of specific embodiments, but it will be appreciated thatthese illustrations are not intended to be limiting and that there arevarious other alternative embodiments that are also within the scope ofthe invention. In particular, a number of examples have been providedillustrating discrete principles. Alternative embodiments may includeelements in arrangements that use multiple of those principles.Accordingly, the above description should not be taken as limiting thescope of the invention, which is defined in the following claims.

1. A method of exchanging selected spectral bands of optical signals,comprising: directing input spectral bands to a first port of awavelength routing element; directing express spectral bands to a secondport of the wavelength routing element; directing add spectral bands toa third port; directing the add spectral bands to the first port of thewavelength routing element; optically combining the add spectral bandswith the express spectral bands onto an express optical signal; anddirecting the express optical signal to an express port.
 2. The methodof exchanging selected spectral bands of claim 1, further comprisingdirecting drop spectral bands to the third port of the wavelengthrouting element, wherefrom the drop spectral bands are routed to a dropport.
 3. The method of exchanging selected spectral bands of claim 1,wherein the wavelength routing element comprises a bidirectionalwavelength cross connect.
 4. The method of exchanging selected spectralbands of claim 3, wherein the bidirectional wavelength cross connectcomprises: a plurality of optically interconnected wavelength routingelements configured to multiplex selective ones of a plurality ofspectral bands to an output optical signal and to direct the outputoptical signal to one of a plurality of ports; wherein the spectralbands are comprised by a plurality of input optical signals, each inputoptical signal being received at respective ones of the plurality ofports.
 5. The method of exchanging selected spectral bands of claim 4,wherein the bidirectional wavelength cross connect further comprises atleast one circulator disposed to: receive one of the plurality of inputoptical signals; route the one of the plurality of input optical signalto one of the ports; receive from the one of the ports the outputoptical signal; and transmit the output optical signal.
 6. The method ofexchanging selected spectral bands of claim 4, wherein at least one ofthe wavelength routing elements comprises a four-pass wavelength routingelement.
 7. The method of exchanging selected spectral bands of claim 4,wherein at least one of the wavelength routing elements comprises atwo-pass wavelength routing element.
 8. The method of exchangingselected spectral bands of claim 4, wherein the bidirectional wavelengthcross connect further comprising a plurality of optical couplers, eachdisposed to intercept one of the input optical signals and to transmitan equivalent of such one of the input optical signals to at least twoof the plurality of wavelength routing elements.
 9. The method ofexchanging selected spectral bands of claim 4, wherein in thebidirectional wavelength cross connect: at least one of the plurality ofwavelength routing elements is comprised by a protection fabric, and aremainder of the plurality of wavelength routing elements is comprisedby a working fabric; and the bidirectional wavelength cross connectfurther comprises at least one working optical switch configured totransmit the output optical signal either as a working signal receivedfrom the working fabric or as a protection signal received from theprotection fabric.
 10. The method of exchanging selected spectral bandsof claim 9, wherein the protection fabric includes a protection opticalswitch disposed to transmit the protection signal to one of the workingoptical switches, depending upon a state of the protection opticalswitch.
 11. The method of exchanging selected spectral bands of claim 9,wherein the at least one wavelength routing element comprised by theprotection fabric is disposed to receive an equivalent of at least oneof the input signals and to transmit the protection signal with spectralbands corresponding to desired spectral bands on the output opticalsignal, depending on the state of that wavelength routing element.